Trap hook



L. E. POSTON Aug. 25, 1953 TRAP HOOK 2. Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 20, 1950 Lester E. Pasfan INVENTOR.

L. E. POSTON Aug. 25, 1953 TRAP HOOK 2 ShetsSheet 2 Filed Jan. 20, 1950 Les/r E. Pas/on IN VEN TOR.

Patented Aug. 25, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TRAP HOOK Lester E. Poston, Algood, Tenn.

Application January 20, 1950, Serial No. 139,674

2 Claims.

The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in fishing hooks and more particularly to a trap hook for swinging a plurality of hooks into a gripping engagement with a fish when striking the bait to firmly hold the fish and prevent its loss.

An important object of the invention is to provide a plurality of swingably supported fishing hooks functioning as a grapples or jaws with trigger released springs means for closing the jaws upon a fish.

A further object of the invention is to provide novel means for suspending the bait from the trigger in a position for closing the jaws about the fish when striking the bait.

A still further object is to provide illuminating means for the bait connected with a self contained electric circuit carried by the trap hook.

A still further object is to provide a device of this character of simple and practical construction, which is efiicient and reliable in operation, relatively inexpensive to manufacture and otherwise well adapted for the purposes for which the same is intended.

Other objects and advantages reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a top plan view,

Figure 2 is a side elevational view,

Figure 3 is a similar view and showing the trap set and also showing the position of a fish when striking the bait,

Figure 4 is a side elevational view showing the trap sprung for closing the grapple or jaws about the fish,

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the jaw actuating plate,

Figure 6 is a perspective view of a modified jaw actuating plate construction for use with four jaws,

Figure '7 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevational view of the clamp for the bait,

Figure 8 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view of the top and bottom caps for the battery case,

Figure 9 is a vertical sectional view of the battery, and

Figure 10 is a fragmentary view partly in vertical section and partly in side elevation illustrating the hanger for the lamp socket.

Referring now to the drawings in detail and first with respect to the form of invention illustrated in Figures 1 to 5 inclusive a numeral 5 designates an upper elongated plate, connected to a lower circular plate or disk 6 by a pair of rods I with spacing sleeves 8 on the rod between plates 5 and 6. A jaw actuating plate 9 is slidably mounted on the lower ends of rods 1, the rods having heads IE1 at their lower ends preventing separation of plate 9 therefrom and coil springs II are positioned on rods I between plates 6 and 9 to slide plate 9 downwardly on the rods.

Plate 9 is formed with slotted openings II in which the shanks I2 of fish hook type grapples or jaws I3 are slidably received, the upper ends of the shanks being pivoted on pins I4 supported in apertured ears or lugs I5 on plate 6. Jaws I3 are curved inwardly at their lower ends toward the center of plate 9 and the lower ends of the jaws I3 are preferably provided with double bills I6 formed with barbs H.

A trigger I8 is constructed to provide a substantially horizontal arm I9 pivoted at one end on a pin 20 supported in apertured ears or lugs 2I on plate 9, the free end of arm I9 overlying a central opening 22 in plate 9 and the free end of arm I9 is also formed with an opening 23. The pivoted end of trigger I8 is formed with an upwardly extending hook 24 received in an opening 25 in a downwardly extending lug 26 formed at one edge of plate 6 to hold plate 9 in a raised position and with springs II placed under tension. A coil spring I8 between the horizontal arm l9 and plate 9 biases said trigger I8 to enter the hook 24 in the opening 25.

A waterproof lamp'socket 21 is supported beneath plate 9 by a hanger 28 extending upwardly through opening 22 and attached to opening 23 in arm I9. A lamp 29 is connected in socket 21 and is shaped to simulate a fish such as a minnow or other bait, the lamp preferably being constructed of a yieldable plastic material and may be colored or otherwise suitably ornamented.

A circuit wire 30 extends from socket 21 upwardly through central opening 22 in plate 9 and to the lower end of a battery case 3| connected in an opening 32, indicated by dotted lines in Figure 2, in one end of upper plate 5 by means of nuts 33 threaded on the battery case. The upper end of battery case 3i is provided with a cap 34 by means of which batteries may be placed in the case.

The upper end of one of the rods 1 is provided with an eye 35 by means of which a fish line 36 may be attached thereto.

In Figure 6 I have illustrated a modified jaw actuating plate 31 for use with four jaws 38 positioned in slots 39, the jaws being arranged in the form of a square and pivoted at their upper ends to an upper plate 43, in the manner heretofore described. The construction of the trap hook otherwise remains the same as that shown in Figures 1 to inclusive.

In Figure 7 a clip 4| of a conventional type is connected to arm t9 of trigger l8'by means of a swivel 42 for gripping a live minnow for use as bait in place of the illuminated bait 29.

In the operation of the device a fish line is attached to eye 35 to lower the trap in the water. Trigger 1% holds plate 9 upwardly to hold grapples or jaws I2 open, as shown in Figure '2. The illuminated bait 29 will attract fish when night fishing and in daylight bait holding clip ll may be used.

A fish 13 upon striking the bait will release trigger "it whereupon springs M will force plate ll downwardly and swing grapples or jaws l2 tin- 'wardly into their closed position, as shown in "Figure 4 to cause books 83 to grip and hold the dish.

The trap may be :locked in aset position, while handling the same, by means of a chain 45 attached to plate 6 and having a 11001445 atnits 'free end for engaging an-eye 56 on {plate 9.

Battery case Si is of water tight construction withagasketili andcork filler block ila between the lower end of the case and lower cap E8 and gasket 19 between the upper end of the tease and upper cap E l.

The batteries 5.! are placed in aniinverted position in -case :31 and a cup '59 :is held in=contact with the base terminalofthe uppermost battery in th'e'case'by a-coil'spring fi compressed against the underside of upper cap 3 5 andaleai spring switch 53 is positioned longitudinally between the case and the batteries and with one of the circuit wires til'attached to the lower'end of the :leaf spring and with an inwardly projecting lip 5 at th-e upper end of ithe leaf spring-movable into 'contact with the cup 58 by a screw .55 threadedin onezside of the case to openandclose the switch for th'e'lamp 29.

The 'switch is held in its closed position :by

threading screw "55 inwardly to maintain the lamp-energized-while the deviceis :in its lowered position in the water and the screw is kept watertight by a rubber washer 55.

In view of the foregoing description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings it is believed that a clear understanding of the construction, operation and advantages of the device will be quite apparent to those skilled in this art. A more detailed description is accordingly deemed unnecessary.

It is to be understood, however, that even though there is herein shown and described a preferred embodiment of the invention the same is susceptible to certain changes fully comprehended by the spirit of the invention as herein described and the scope of the appended claims.

Havingdescribed the invention, what is claimed ,as new is:

"1. A trap hook comprising an upper plate, a pair :of rods extending downwardly therefrom and having heads on the lower ends thereof, a lower ,plateslidable downwardly on the rods into engagement with said heads and having a central aperture therein, springs on the rods between said plates-sliding the lower plate downwardly, .apluralityof jaws pivoted to the upper plate and on which the lower plate is slidable for-opening and closing the jaws, a trigger pivoted en the lowenplateon top thereof with one end overlying said aperture and adapted for suspending a-bait holder depending through said aperturer and a lug on said upper plate depending from one side edge thereof engaging said trigger ,to :hold the lower zplate raised.

'2. A *trap according to claim 1 wherein said trigger is provided with an :upstanding 'hook and said ilug'is :Provided with an aperture receiving said hook.

LESTER. POSTON.

References :Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 189,805 "Smith Apr. 17, 1877 "?;0'77 Whipple Apr. 12, 1904 834,495 Sandefur Oct. 30, 1906 1;009j9'68 Herrrnann Nov. 28, 1911 1,663,465 '"Nefl Mar. 20,1928

2,525,109 Abbott ,Oct. '10, 1950 

